Combined Maritime Forces (CMF)

In News 

Recently, India began cooperation with Bahrain-based Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) .

Background 

• At the India-US 2+2 in April 2022, India had announced that it would join the CMF as an Associate Partner and will strengthen cooperation in regional security in the Western Indian Ocean. 

Combined Maritime Forces (CMF)

• About:
  • It is a multinational maritime partnership, which exists to uphold the Rules-Based International Order (RBIO) by countering illicit non-state actors on the high seas and promoting security, stability, and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, which encompass some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.
• Focus:
  • Counter-narcotics, counter-smuggling, suppressing piracy, encouraging regional cooperation, and engaging with regional and other partners to strengthen relevant capabilities in order to improve overall security and stability, and promoting a safe maritime environment free from illicit non-state actors. 
  • When requested, CMF assets at sea will also respond to environmental and humanitarian incidents.

Source: TH